Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.)

0. M. BLYDENBURGH. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 482,839. Patented Sept. 20, 1892..

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES M. BLYDENBURGH, OF RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK.

RUNNlNG-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,839, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application filed October 20, 1891- Serial No. 409,314. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. BLYDEN- BURGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Riverhead, in the county of Suffolk and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear,of which the following is a full and clear description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a bottom plan view of the body of a vehicle,showing the diagonallydisposed crossed springs. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the yieldingconnection at the point. of crossing of the springs placed below thebody of the vehicle. Fig. 4is a cross-sectional view on the line mm offigure 1, showing a modification of the yielding connection.

- My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in therunning-gear of carriages and wagons; and it consists of theconstructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafterfully describe and claim. i

To enable others skill in the art to which my invention appertains tomake and use the same, I will now describe its construction and indicatethe manner in which the same is carried out.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated only those parts of therunning-gear to which my invention particularly relates, having omittedthe axles, shackles, Wheels, and other complementary features, which arewell known and form no part of the present invention.

A indicates a body of any well-known or appropriate construction, havingcross-bars B securely fastened to its under sides at points near theends, and 0 represents two springs composed of fiat spring metal, havingtheir outer ends provided withmeans for the attachment of shackles orother analogous or suitable devices by which the body is supported.These springs C extend the full length of the body in diagonal lines,crossing each other at a point near the longitudinal center of the bodyand being clipped or otherwise secured to the cross-bars 13,substantially as shown in Fig. 1. In order that these two springs maycross each other without necessitating a cutting away of either spring,I form each of them of a long leaf or plate a, and then secure to saidplates, at points commencing at both sides of the point of crossing andterminating short of the outer extremities of the plate a, a series ofsupplemental leaves or plates b, which greatly stiffen and strengthenthe springs. By thus adding the supplemental plates or leaves only tothose portions of the springs between the line of crossing and the outerportions of both ends the springs at the point of crossing have but athickness that is equal to the thicknesses of the plates (1. of eachspring. Therefore I do not have to cut away any portion of either plate,and the springs may be placed in position or removed without any fittingand extra labor. At the point of crossing a hole Z) is made in the platea of each spring, thereby uniting the two springs, preventing anyindependent lateral movement, and assisting the end-supporting devices(not shown) in preventing movement lengthwise. Through the holes I) arod or pin D is passed, said rod or pin also passing through anotherhole a, made in the floor of the body and having its upper end formed orprovided with a collar or head (1, between which and the floor of thebodyA is placed a spiral or other spring or cushion E. The opposite endof the rod or pin D projects beyond the surface of the plates at of thesprings and is threaded to receive a nut F, by which the tension of thisyielding central support is increased or diminished. This result will bebetter understood from the following: The springs 0 being clipped to thecross-bars 13, these latter serve as fulcrum for them, the cushion orspring E operating against the bolt or pin D to keep the united crossedportions of the springs C normally against the floor or bottom of thebody. The outerends of the springs 0 being fixed, the weight upon thebody, acting through the fulcrums or cross-bars, causes the springs tostraighten out, thereby drawing the crossed portions down against the influence of thespring E. If a heavy weight is to be placed upon the body,the nut F is adjusted upon the threaded end of the bolt or pin D tocause a compression and stiffening of the spring E, thereby enablingthis spring to hold the main springs G with increased power against thebody. This adjustment, therefore, serves to give additional strength andrigidity to the spring connection which supports the body of thevehicle. By lowering the nut upon the bolt or pin the connection is madeless rigid and more elastic.

In Fig. 1 the yielding connection of the springs (3 with the body of thevehicle is shown as being upon the upper side of the floor of the body;but this is not essential, as the parts operate just as well whenreversed and when the spring E is interposed between the springs C andthe bottom of the floor, as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 is disclosed a slight modification of the constructions shownin Figs. 2 and 3, this change consisting in supporting the crossedportions of the springsO upon a plate H,through each end of which passesabolt or ro'd I, whose upper ends are joined bya crossbar J, betweenwhich and the bottom or floor of the body a spring K isplaced. Theoperation of this construction is similar to the others and needsnofurther explanation.

I do not limit myself to anyparticular form of spring forholding thecrossed portions of the springs'Cagainst the floor of the body, as anywell-known form of spring will operate inlthe same manner and producethe same resu t.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In running-gear, diagonally-disposed springs crossing each otherbelow the body of the vehicle and normally held thereto'by a flexibleconnection, said springs having sup plemental plates secured to the mainplates upon each side of the point of crossing, but

having only a single thickness at the places where they cross,substantially as herein described.

2. In runninggear, diagonally-disposed curved springs consisting of theplates a, crossing each other at points near their centers and securedto the body of the vehicle at points between the crossing and outer exits surface upon each side of its upper surface between its centralportion and ends, thereby leaving said centralportion of but a singlethickn'ess,said central portion being united and joined to thebody ofthe vehicle by a spring connection. i

4. In running-gear, the body having the cross-bars, thediagonally-disposedsprings se cured to said bars and crossing each othernear the center of the under side of the body, a bolt or pin passingloosely through said. body and the crossed portion of the springs, a nutadjustable upon the threaded end of the bolt or pin, and a springsurrounding the bolt between its opposite ends and the bottom or floorof the body, whereby the crossed portions of the main spring arenormally held against said bottom or floor, but yield under theinfiuence of weight upon the body, substantially as herein described.

CHARLES M. BLYDENBURGI'I.

Witnesses:

T. WALTER FOWLER, CHAPMAN FOWLER.

